The Minister of Water Resources says the Chinese government will increase the efficiency of water use through technical upgrades for farmland irrigation and reforms of the water management system.

Minister Wang Shucheng made the statement one day ahead of World Day for Water, which falls on March 22 of each year. He stressed that water scarcity has become a problem restraining the development of the Chinese economy.

He added China should make energetic efforts to build a society that advocates and encourages thriftiness in water use, adding it is the most efficient means to tackle water shortages in the country.

Around 700,000 people and 207,000 head of livestock are currently suffering drinking water shortages in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

(CRI March 22, 2007)